Governments progress mental health sector priorities

The future of mental health in Australia has taken a promising step forward over the last week, as the Australian and state and territory governments have shown a united front in addressing some of the recommended priorities of the mental health sector. 

At last Friday's Health and Mental Health Ministers’ Meeting, there was an agreement to deliver on two of the three immediate recommended actions included in our Statement of Priorities, which was endorsed by 80 of our member organisations. This included: 

• A commitment for health and mental health ministers to meet twice yearly to progress reform priorities 

• The immediate release of the Analysis of Unmet Need for Psychosocial Support Outside the NDIS.  

The commitment from ministers to meet twice annually provides the platform for key intergovernmental negotiations on mental health reform – which has been missing to date. Child and youth mental health is set to be a key focus of the next meeting. This commitment couldn’t come sooner, with the world-first review into youth mental health last week from The Lancet Psychiatry Commission, showing an alarming rise in mental ill-health among young people. 

Moreover, the public release of the national Analysis of Unmet Need for Psychosocial Support Outside the NDIS has underscored the staggering reality we face: 230,500 people with severe mental illness and 263,100 people with moderate mental illness are not receiving the psychosocial support they need (analysis as of 2022-2023). This number far exceeds previous estimates of 154,000 from the Productivity Commission in 2020, and shines a light on the urgent need for fully funded services that can meet the scale of this challenge.   

Governments also recognised the need to address ongoing mental health workforce challenges. Their decision to initiate a national workforce data and information monitoring project, inclusive of community-managed and peer mental health workforces, marks a critical next step.  

This meeting was an important moment. It shows that governments are listening to the priorities of the community and sector, and are willing to work together to achieve change. We must keep working together in our advocacy, to ensure that governments continue to partner with the community and sector, and respond to the scale of need.  

Let’s move forward together, united in our purpose to build a community and mental health system that leaves no one behind. 

Carolyn Nikoloski

CEO, Mental Health Australia 

The diary next week

• Today I am attending a Parliamentary Friends of Youth Mental Health event and Orygen's event: social media and self-harm/suicide prevention among young people. I am also meeting with the National Mental Health Commission, and the Minister for Health and Aged Care, the Hon Mark Butler MP.
• On Thursday I am attending and facilitating a panel discussion on mental health reform at the joint Mental Health Australia and Mental Health First Aid International event, with international keynote speaker, Chuck Ingoglia. This is being livestreamed and you can register at the link below. 
• On Thursday Mental Health Australia’s Policy and Advocacy team will also be attending the August NDIS Disability Representative and Carer Organisations Forum, and I will be attending for part of the meeting.
• On Friday our Policy and Advocacy team will be attending the August NDIS Reform for Outcomes Quarterly Meeting.
• On Monday I am meeting with Suicide Prevention Australia, and Mental Health Australia members, the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists, and the NSW Mental Health Coordinating Council.
• On Tuesday I am attending the Mental Health and Suicide Prevention Senior Officials Safety & Quality Group meeting.

You are invited to join Mental Health First Aid International (MHFAI) and Mental Health Australia’s live broadcast event to discuss national mental health reform, drawing on global insights to drive meaningful change. 

Date: Thursday 22 August 
Time: 12:00PM – 1:30PM (AEST) 
Location: Online
Register: Click the button below to register

This online broadcast will feature a keynote presentation from international guest Chuck Ingoglia as he shares his experiences driving reform as President and CEO of the US’s peak mental health body National Council for Mental Wellbeing. Chuck will provide insights and lessons learned from the organisation’s work in developing 500 Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinics across 48 states nationwide. 

Following the keynote presentation, a panel discussion will explore the parallels between this model and our national Medicare Mental Health Centre and Victorian Local Mental Health and Wellbeing Centre programs. This is an opportunity to understand how lessons from the US can be applied locally and explore potential solutions to advance our mental health reform efforts.  

The panel, facilitated by Carolyn Nikoloski, CEO of Mental Health Australia, will include:

• Tramaine EL-Amin, President, Mental Health First Aid USA, National Council for Mental Wellbeing
• Tom Dalton, CEO, Neami National 
• Ingrid Ozols AM, Mental Health and Suicide Prevention Consultant
• Dr Rahul Khanna, Program Director (Clinical), Transforming Trauma Victoria

Please register to secure your spot as places are limited.

If you have any questions, please reach out to communications@mhfa.com.au.

Mental Health Australia is delighted to announce a Mental Health Sector Expo - co-hosted with Parliamentary Friends groups - and we invite members to join us at Parliament House on Wednesday 9 October.

In one of the last federal parliamentary sitting weeks of 2024, the Expo’s purpose is to provide access and opportunities for members to showcase your organisation to federal parliamentarians, feature sector achievements, and promote the availability of mental health supports and services in local electorates.

There are limited spots for an exclusive opportunity to book a display space to showcase your organisation to MPs and Senators on the eve of World Mental Health Day.

Attendance is free for Mental Health Australia members.

Members wishing to book a display space are asked to make an $80 contribution per organisation to assist with event costs and to secure their space and equipment.

Event essentials:

Time/date: 9am – 1pm (AEDT), Wednesday 9 October 
Venue: Mural Hall, Parliament House, Canberra

See attached flyer for more information.

Secure your spot now! Bookings close COB Tuesday 27 August.

To RSVP and book a display space please click on the button below to complete the registration form. 

Open Tender Opportunity - Embrace Multicultural Mental Health

Mental Health Australia is seeking a partner to deliver a report on the State of Mental Health for Multicultural Australia.

In May 2023, the Commonwealth Government announced a funding allocation through Mental Health Australia and the Embrace Multicultural Mental Health Project (Embrace Project) for the delivery of a report on the State of Mental Health for Multicultural Australia. The current state of mental health in multicultural Australia is relatively unknown. Due to the absence of contemporary academic literature and formal reports on the topic, it is largely reliant upon anecdotal reports. The report on the State of Mental Health in Multicultural Australia will help to address this gap. The report will align with the Australian Government’s commitment to improving mental health supports for priority population groups, including multicultural communities and improving access and equity for people seeking mental health services. 

This is an open tender process; all submissions must be received no later than 5:00pm (AEST) on 26 August 2024.

For more information of this opportunity and tender documentation, please click on the button below. For any queries, please email multicultural@mhaustralia.org before 22 August 2024, 12:00pm AEST.

Health Ministers Meeting - Communique

Health Ministers met in Sydney to discuss a range of important issues including health reform, the national COVID inquiry, mental health and suicide prevention, and family, domestic and sexual violence. Health Ministers also met with members from all Australian Medical Council registered Colleges and other health workforce stakeholders to collaborate on key areas to grow and sustain the health workforce in Australia.

Governments take action on mental health sector priorities

Mental Health Australia commends health and mental health ministers for listening to the mental health sector and agreeing to take immediate action on recommended priorities at the ministers’ meeting last Friday.

headspace welcomes health ministers’ prioritisation of youth mental health

headspace National Youth Mental Health Foundation welcomes news that youth mental health has been called out as a priority at last week's Health Ministers’ Meeting. headspace CEO Jason Trethowan said the meeting was a recognition of the priorities listed in a recent joint statement to government from organisations across the mental health sector.

Mental Health Reform Advisory Committee - Better Access evaluation Government response

The Government’s response to the Better Access evaluation has been published on the Department’s website.

Premiere of ‘Just a Farmer’ to Shine a Light on Rural Mental Health

On August 21, the National Library of Australia will host the red-carpet premiere of the film Just a Farmer. The premiere will be a feature of the National Farmers Federation (NFF) Leaders' Summit which convenes over 250 agribusiness and political leaders to address key issues in Australian agriculture. Just a Farmer is a compelling exploration of the mental health challenges faced by rural Australians, its purpose to ignite conversations essential for driving meaningful change.

See attached media release.

Movember partnership to advance initiatives to help young men to have healthy, respectful relationships

Minister for Social Services, the Hon. Amanda Rishworth MP said the Albanese Labor Government is partnering with the Movember Institute of Men's Health in a transformative commitment to advance work to help young men and boys foster healthy, respectful relationships as part of efforts to end gender-based violence.

Calls to back headspace model in global response to youth mental health challenge

A new paper published last week has recognised headspace National Youth Mental Health Foundation as a leader in the global response to the growing challenge of mental ill-health among young people.

Discussion Paper on the National Carer Strategy

The Albanese Labor Government is continuing its commitment to better support the three million unpaid carers in Australia, with consultation on a discussion paper about the new National Carer Strategy opening on Monday 19 August. 

Nursing leader transforms mental health education

Professor Lorna Moxham FACN has won the 2024 Health Minister's Award for Nursing Trailblazers for her innovative approach to mental health care and recovery by working with patients and nursing students in unison in a camp environment.

New Chair and Funding for National Disability Research Partnership

Minister for Social Services, the Hon. Amanda Rishworth MP, says the Albanese Labor Government is committed to better supporting people with disability to develop and lead research through the establishment of the National Disability Research Partnership (NDRP) as an independent entity. More than $13.6 million has been committed over the next two years to formalise and establish the NDRP as an Australian-first entity, co-led by people with disability.

Four new Medicare Mental Health Centres for NSW

Assistant Minister for Mental Health and Suicide Prevention, the Hon. Emma McBride MP, says people across the Blacktown, Campbeltown, Broken Hill and Central Darling regions of New South Wales will soon have free, walk-in mental health support and care with the opening of four new Medicare Mental Health Centres. 

New report proposes transforming Australia’s approach to child justice and wellbeing

The Australian Human Right Commission say in a major new report, Australia’s National Children’s Commissioner is calling for significant changes to how our federal, state and territory governments approach child justice and the wellbeing of children who are or who are at risk of being caught up in the criminal justice system.

Youth mental health crisis ignored by Albanese government

Shadow Minister for Health and Aged Care, Senator Anne Ruston, and Shadow Assistant Minister for Mental Health and Suicide Prevention, Senator Hollie Hughes, say the Lancet Psychiatry Commission on youth mental health has confirmed what the Coalition has been calling on the Albanese Labor Government to recognise - Australia is facing a mental health crisis, and the Government must urgently ensure there is affordable access to adequate support.

Caring for Queensland’s carers with $1 million mental health boost (QLD)

Minister for Training and Skills Development, Lance McCallum, says recognising the critical role of the health and community care sector in Queensland's future, the new Miles Labor Government is investing $1 million to support the workforce, specifically addressing the growing danger of psychosocial trauma.

Greens secure reforms that strengthen children's human rights and safety (VIC)

Victorian Greens spokesperson for justice, Katherine Copsey, says the Victorian Greens have supported the passage of the Youth Justice Bill after securing a number of reforms that will strengthen children's human rights and safety. 

Extra guidance for families and children dealing with the harms of cyberbullying (NSW)

A new one-stop-shop to help families navigate the difficult world of cyberbullying has been launched last week in a collaboration between the NSW Labor Government and Federal eSafety Commissioner Julie Inman Grant.

Karen Brown appointed to lead Lotterywest and Healthway Boards (WA)

The Cook Government is pleased to announce the appointment of Ms Karen Brown as Chair of both Lotterywest and Healthway Boards, commencing on 1 September 2024. Ms Brown replaces Professor Peter Klinken AC as Chair, who retires after a six-year tenure.

$1.5 million boost for community centres (SA)

The State Government is boosting support for South Australia's community centres, with the opening of a $1.5 million grants round designed to increase community participation and combat social isolation. This new funding, initiated by Minister for Human Services Nat Cook, recognises the important work of community centres in running programs and activities that help strengthen local communities.

Scope of Practice Review Update August 2024

The Commonwealth Department of Health and Aged Care has advised that there has been significant progress on the Scope of Practice Review.

In the latest update, Professor Mark Cormack provides a brief overview of the progress throughout consultations on Issues Paper 2 and highlights key achievements of the Scope of Practice Review so far.

Read the latest update by clicking on the button below.

NSW Suicide Prevention Legislation – Sector Survey

Suicide Prevention Australia is undertaking consultations, on behalf of the NSW Government, concerning the NSW Suicide Prevention Act. This is new legislation the NSW Government is introducing to help prevent suicide. 

The NSW Suicide Prevention Act aims to establish a whole-of-government and whole-of-community approach to suicide prevention. It seeks to ensure collective responsibility, accountability, and action towards suicide prevention across government.   

What’s the opportunity? 

Suicide Prevention Australia is conducting consultations to ensure people with a diverse range of experiences and expertise have input into the development of the NSW Suicide Prevention Act. One way we are doing this is through a sector-wide survey: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/NSWlegislation.  

This survey asks for feedback on the proposed aims and elements of the new legislation.   

Who should participate? 

If you work in the suicide prevention sector, or you are someone with lived experience of suicide, we would very much value your participation in the survey. We would also value your participation if you are part of an organisation that works alongside the suicide prevention sector. 

How do I participate? 

To complete the survey, click on the button below. The Survey should take about 10-15 minutes to complete. It closes on 30 September.

How do I find out more about the new legislation? 

If you would like to know more about the new NSW Suicide Prevention Act, you can find more information at this link: NSW Suicide Prevention Legislation | NSW Government. 

The role of symbolic language in mental health and communication

Please join the Mental Health Professionals Network (MHPN) to launch the newest MHPN network - Creative and Expressive Therapy network! 

In this session, the group will look at how clients can ‘talk’ using symbolic language. Every member will be able to participate in this activity by choosing a symbol from our collection. An interactive creative and expressive method used in sand tray therapy.

Fiona Werle is the founder and CEO of Opengate Institute Sandtray Therapy Training. RSVP closes on 16 September.  

Meeting details:

Date: Tuesday, 17 September 2024
Time: 06:00 PM AEST for 1 hour
Venue: Opengate Institute, Western Sydney University, Hawkesbury Campus, Building P2, Richmond  2753  NSW
 
Catering: Nibbles/coffee/tea/juice available

Paid consultation opportunity for NDIS participants

JFA Purple Orange, a social profit organisation, has been asked by the National Disability Insurance Agency to set up co-design workshops exploring a blended payments model.

They are looking for NDIS participants to take part in a paid co-design group to provide feedback on how NDIS providers are paid for certain types of supports. In particular, they are looking for people with lived experience in receiving NDIS funding to access supports in one of these areas:

• Employment Support for School Leavers

• Supported Independent Living

• Younger People (65yrs) living in Residential Aged Care

The co-design group will discuss:

• What the new blended payments model should look like
• Feedback on a proposed model
• How to test any models developed

For more information or to register, get in contact with JFA Purple Orange at admin@purpleorange.org.au

Closing soon: 2024 ANU-ALIVE National Lived-Experience Priorities Study

A reminder that the 2024 ANU-ALIVE National Lived-Experience Priorities Study is closing soon, but there’s still time to contribute! 

The ALIVE National Centre HUB Team is eager to hear from young people (aged 16-25) living with mental ill-health, as well as their carers, family, and kinship groups. There are four ways to contribute: an online survey, photo interview, crowd sourcing and emotion mapping. Click the button below to participate.

The ethical aspects of this project have been approved by the ANU Human Research Ethics Committee (protocol H/2024/0495). The closing date is 31 August 2024.

Public Consultation - Draft Autism Health Roadmap

The Australian Government has developed a Draft National Roadmap to Improve the Health and Mental Health of Autistic People (Autism Health Roadmap) through co-design and engagement with Autistic people, families and carers, health experts and sector representatives. The Autism Health Roadmap aims to improve the health and mental health of Autistic people by addressing the serious health inequities they face in Australia.   

You can give your feedback on the Draft Autism Health Roadmap in the following ways:    

• Complete the Full survey 
• Complete the Short Form survey 
• Complete the Easy Read survey 
• Provide a written, audio or video submission via email.

The Department of Health and Aged Care will be holding a webinar to answer your questions about the Autism Health Roadmap on Thursday 22 August.  Click on the button and follow the link to register your interest. 

The Department will accept feedback until 27 September, 11:59 PM. Please note that to finalise the Autism Health Roadmap by the end of 2024, we will not be able to accept late submissions.

Young Minds: Our Future is the Third Australian Child and Adolescent Survey of Mental Health and Wellbeing

It will provide updated national prevalence data on how many children and young people experience mental health difficulties and how these impact young people. It's been 10 years since the last national survey, Young Minds Matter, and a lot has changed. Results will be used to determine how to enhance the well-being of young Australians including service delivery. The youth are our future and we must invest in them.

We want to ensure the perspectives of young people, their families, and those with lived experience are embedded in this work. We seek young people 16-24y, and parents/carers of children aged 4-17 to partner with us on formal advisory groups.

Youth Advisory Group Expression of Interest (ages 16-24)

https://curtin.au1.qualtrics.co/jfe/form/SV_b4qiBRkMI6zaJn0

Parent/Carer Advisory Group Expression of Interest

https://curtin.au1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_5vUpjph0BVWoNng

The Queensland Centre for Mental Health Research is conducting this study in partnership with Curtin University and is funded by the Australian Government Department of Health and Aged Care.

EOI for Pacific Islander or First Nations artist commission - Oceania WMHD webinar

The World Federation for Mental Health (WFMH) is excited to invite individual or group artists to submit an Expression of Interest (EOI) for a commission celebrating
World Mental Health Day (WMHD) 2024. Your piece should align with our webinar theme: ‘Wellbeing at Work: Cultures of Support and Connection in the Pacific Region.’ The selected commission will receive $AU500.

How to Apply:
Send your EOI (precis) plus links to previous work to Julie Millard, Board Director, World Federation for Mental Health, at Juliemillard@bigpond.com by Monday 2 Sept 2024.

For questions, contact Natalie Cutler at Natalie.Cutler@uts.edu.au

Please refer to attached flyer for further details.

Breathwork, Connection and Meditation with Uplift Community

Mind Medicine Australia's monthly Melbourne event series is an opportunity to come together to connect and create space for your mental health and well-being.

The August event will be facilitated by Uplift Community.

All are welcome to join us for an ‘uplifting’ workshop designed to dive deeper into Breathwork practices to learn simple techniques to regulate the nervous system, manage stress and improve mood.  There will also be an opportunity for open discussions about well-being and mental health in a supportive environment and the session will conclude with a calming guided meditation.

Conversation and light refreshments will follow the main session.

Limited places are available.

• Location: Level 4, 479 St Kilda Road Melbourne VIC 3004
• Date: Tuesday 27 August 2024
• Time: Please arrive from 6:45pm for a 7pm start, finish at 8:30pm.
• Price: $35 OR MHA Members Concession Rate $25 – please use discount code and invite others: DISCOUNT CODE: COMMUNITY24

All funds raised will go directly towards Mind Medicine Australia, with 50% going to supporting advocacy efforts and 50% going to MMA’s Patient Support Fund.

Suicide prevention research opportunity for young people

Youth suicide is a growing problem in Australia. There is increasing recognition that brief interventions and strategies may be an important aspect of a comprehensive treatment strategy in emergency departments.

In a joint project between Deakin University and Monash Health, our team is developing a text message intervention program to support young people who are discharged from an emergency department after presenting with risk of suicide.

We are currently looking for the final 10 young people aged 16-24 to complete our survey to help us develop this intervention. If you are aged 16-24 and have presented to an ED for suicide-related concerns as a teenager, or know someone with this experience, please consider completing our survey or passing on.

Participants will also have the opportunity to participate in an interview.

Interview participants will receive a $50 gift voucher.

R U OK? encourages year-round conversations: Ask R U OK? Any Day

A lot can happen in a year, a month, a week. Whether it’s your friend, family member, colleague, partner, or teammate, the people you care about go through life’s ups and downs every day.

That’s why R U OK? is calling on everyone to Ask R U OK? Any Day because life happens every day. New research has found 90% of people who are regularly asked R U OK? feel more supported, connected and cared about. By checking in regularly with the people close to you, you can help prevent small things from becoming big things.

R U OK?Day is Thursday 12 September but you can Ask R U OK? Any Day.

Visit ruok.org.au for free tips and tools to build the R U OK? message across your year.

#RUOKAnyDay #RUOK

2024 Rural Mental Health Conference

Cairns, Qld 6th – 8th November, mark the dates in your calendar now for this year’s Rural Mental Health Conference.

This event is the place to be if you work in mental or allied health within rural and remote communities or with companies that support better mental health outcomes for rural communities.

Occupational Therapy Australia’s OT Mental Health Forum 2024

Occupational Therapy Australia’s (OTA) OT Mental Health Forum 2024, taking place on Thursday 28 and Friday 29 November in Melbourne and the program is now live! 

OTA and our Forum Committee have put together an exciting, varied program that spans two full days.

With inspiring keynote speakers, panel sessions, ePosters, workshops and more, this is an inspiring program with something for everyone working in mental health occupational therapy.

Explore the full program here: https://www.otausevnts.com.au/cmspreview/mentalhealthforum2024/program-agenda

Don’t forget to use #MHF24 hashtag and tag Occupational Therapy Australia! 

Register now for the 10th International Conference on Social Work in Health and Mental Health

Take advantage of early bird pricing today and save up to 25% on your In-Person Full registration!

Spanning three days, the Conference main program will be offered over eleven concurrent streams each day. The diverse range of topics covered in each stream will explore the intersection between social workers and Health and Mental Health care.

Blending keynote and featured speakers, plenary and concurrent sessions and workshops, the Conference program will bring forward new concepts, discuss existing practices and give attendees the most up to date subject knowledge available.

Share your news, job vacancies, or upcoming events to more than 5,000 people in the mental health sector each week.

Mental Health Australia members are invited to send us news, announcements, job vacancies, events or other notices for inclusion in the Weekly CEO Update newsletter. To do so, simply fill out this form by COB each Monday for your notice to appear in the newsletter.

If you are interested in being featured in our newsletter, please note that promotions in the Weekly CEO Update are one of many member benefits. Apply for a full or associate membership to take part in advocacy at the national level. For more information or to register your organisation, follow this link.